Paper stuffing machine



Deen 28, 1954 R. E. DEUEL ETA, 2,698,174

PAPER STUFF'ING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1952 9 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. Z8, 1954 R. E. DEul-:L ETAL 2,698,174

PAPER STUFFING MACHINE A Filed Jan. 9, 19.52 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 @idg/3,

Dec. 28, 1954 R. E. DEuEl. ETAI.

PAPER STUFFING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 9. 1952 mm. QW. 5w

Dec. 28, 1954 R. E. Deur-:L Erm.

PAPER STUFFING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Robert ,Deu el Ua ck f/noble @wma/9L mf lll l.

Filed Jan. 9, 1952 Dec. 28, 1954 R. E. DEUEL ETAL 2,698,174

PAPER STUFFING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1952 9 sheets-Sheet 5 I l l Dec. 28, 1954 R. E. DEUEL ETAL.

PAPER sTuFFING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 9, 19.52

5, mik w n W5 Wd 4f my 2 1 n d, 4 j 1 ,MM n@ A, 70 C 5 .V $95 0 RJQ Jf o J J0 LE @7M Dec. 28, 1954 R. E. DEUEL ETAL PAPER STUFFING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 9, 1952 fons:

Dec. 28, 1954 R, E, DEUEL Erm., 2,698,174

PAPER STUFFING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 2@ f" 180 F E'. 9.

l l O Dec. 28, 1954 R. E. DEUEL. ETAL PAPER STUFFING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Raber E Deuel fcls R.

Filed Jan. 9, 1952 .and which is Ycompact and` United States Patent" .v `PAPER STUFFING MACHINE Robert E..Deuel, Oak Park, .and Jack R.vr Knoble,

; Des Plainesilll.

. Application-Ianuary 9, 1952, Serial No. 265,634

9 Claims.` (Cl. Z70-55) This inventionV relates to.improvements in paper stuffing machines andrefers particularly toa machine of the class described which is simple in construction and operation of `suiiiciently light weight as to be vmade portable. I .The machine comprising thepresent invention coinprises two or moreunits, .the irst unit being adapted to feed afolded sheet or folded sheets, as, `for instance, the

V.outer section of aV newspaper to a conveyor, theffolded papers being fed. in iseriatim."v The folded'papers fed by .the iirst unit are .delivered to the conveyor with the main vtold. extending downwardly, whereby inbeing carried forwardly by the conveyor,J the papers are controllably spread to receive, intimed relationship anirinersection delivered from the next unit. Additional units may be employed, if desired, tofeedadditional folded papers to the conveyor to bealikewise embraced by the outer section being carried forwardly by the conveyor, all of said unitsincluding the `iirstfunit operating in substantially the same-manner.

i One of' the important features of the present invention resides inthe provision of a feed-ing devicefwherein papers are positively fed from one unit insseriatim to a conveyor and are carried forwardly byV said conveyor to receive the positively yfed papers frommanovther unit, the lfeeding devices and 4Vmovement of the conveyor being inA timed relationship.

n Another important feature of the invention resides inthe .provision-of a continuously runningconveyorwhich can be,` madel operativel and inoperative to carry papers forwardly andstop the forwardmovement of the papers in timed relationship to the operation of the feed units.

Other objects and advantages of the inventionwill be lapparent from the accompanying drawings and following detailed description. f In the drawings, Fig. l isa front elevational view of our stuiling machine.

' Fig. 2 isan enlargedright end elevational view of the machine as viewed` inFig. lf.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial top plan view of the mach-ine` shown in Fig. 1.

'Figs. 4 and 4A are enlarged sectional views taken respectively on; lines 44.and 4A-4A of Fig. l.

Fig. A5' isvan enlarged detailed sectional view taken on line 5&5 of Fig. l. showing one position of the paper feed mechanism.

Fig. 6'is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing anotherview ofthe paper feed.mechanism.

Fig. 7 is an enlargeddetailed sectional view taken on AUFig. 8 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken on line tL-S-ofFig. 2.

constructed `in units dependngtupon. the number 'off inserts to be studied within the outer-section ofthe-paper. For instance, if the machineis .adapted to stuff newspapers, one unit willyfeed the-outer section of the newspaper toa conveyor and this section will befcarriedforwardly and receive an insertfed from a second vunit which `is similar to the unit which fed the rst section; the outer- 'section with its first insert may then be carriedforwardly and receive a second insert fedfrom asimilar third unit, Vand so onior as many inserts as desired.: For purposes of description two ,complete units together with the delivery end of the machine is shown and the drawing is divided by broken lines to indicate that as many duplicate units as desired may be employed.

The various mechanisms Vcomprising thepresent=inven tion are carried by:a 4frame comprising upright members l, 1 being respectively vthe front uprightmembe'rs and the rear upright members.. The members land 1" are spanned by transverse frame membersl 3I-whereby arigid frame structure .is-formed. The machine may be` permanently mountedy upon floor .4 orl maybe mounted'on casters- (not shown) in the event that the-machine is to be portable.

The machine shown and to be-described comprises two complete units, designated generally as Sand 6; and a delivery end 7, th'ebroken lines 8 intending to indicate that asmanyunits as desired maybe disposed'side by side followed 'by the `delivery end 7.

An electric motor 9,y is mountedY upon-the frame and may be coupled with aspeed reducer-'1 10.` The speed'reducer output shaft comprises the main drive shaft 11 of the machine, said drive` shaft being journalled in bearing l2 which is mounted upon the rear upright vframe member l. A sprocket wheel 13 is mounted upon drive shaft' 11 and by means of a sprocket chain 14 asprocket wheel 15 is driven, said latter sprocket? wheelbeing mounted upon a feed shaftiljournalerl` in bearings 17 carried bythe rear upright frame members 1'. A sprocket wheel 18 is also mounted. upon drive shaft I 11 and by means of sprocket chain 19 drives sprocket -wheel'Zil mounted upon shait 2l journaled in aconventional right-angle drive`22. A sprocket-wheel,23 isalso carried upon theA drive shaft 1l4 and yby means-f of sprocket chainv24fdrives 4sprocket wheel 25 carried upon: camrshaft126ji The; cam shaft 26 is journaled.` in bearings x 27.. mounted-upon cross frame members 28.

-At the uppervportion ofyunit 5 ahopper 29 is mounted, said `hopperbeing adapted,` toghold afgsupply: of papers 39 i ce which; comprise the outer .sections of vthenewspaper, and

within Vwhich the insertsll .carried-.byuni't 6and any additional unit employed-fare adapted to-ibe positioned.

The unit 6 is equipped with a similar hopper fori carrying inserts31 and any additional. unitemployed would also have a similar hopper.. In viewoffthe .fact thaty allof Asaid hoppers are;-alike-,;onlythe hopper-29t of unit fwillY be described in detaily andwithout furtherdetailed description, the `parts.comprising` the. hopper; 29 in unit 6 willbe designated by primed reference ,numerals corresponding to like-.parts innunit 5.

The hopper 29 comprises a pair of spaced braced meir panel 33, preferablyconstructed of sheetmetahis mounted @Fig 9 is an. enlarged detailed sectional: viewk takenv on i i Fig. l0 isa'sectional view-taken on line 10%10 o f' Fig. 9 showing one positionl of `the belt-actuating mechanism.

:f Fig. ll is a similar view showing another position ofthe n di ve r"lustratin the sreadin mechanism dum' an con y0 n g P g f 1 iswprovided 4with an aperture @43m which the Vupper pass rangementrfordiverting. the firsty insert .paperywhen a second oit-subsequent insert' paper is to be embraced by an opter section paper.

" 'lhemachine pomprising thev presentinvention` mayb@ atits upper end upon-,an anglefironf34. The-panel 33 denes an-inclinedplane uponfwhich -the outer sectionsz30 of the; newspaper are .adapted tobe piled,.sa1dl newspapers being disposedtonedge` in planeI parallel.` relationship to each other.

fr A pair Y otv spaced supporting.` memhersuA are `carried upon'the rearffaceof the `panelfi ,andbearings 36 and.V 37 are'mountednpomeach` of .therA members 35.. A.shaft 38 is journaled in-theopposite; bearings-36am a similar shaft 39 is journaled in the opposite bearings 37, shaft'`3 carrying, betweemsaid-bearings, aroll 40 and `shaft 39 similarly carryinga;roll;41.V A conveyor.. belt 42 is .ti-tained around the `rolls 40 and 41. The central portion of the-panel 33 shaftf comprises-theinput shat'to'fv aconventional speed 3 reducing mechanism 47, the output shaft th'ereof being shaft 48. A sprocket wheel 49 is mounted upon the output shaft 48 and by means of sprocket chain 50 drives a sprocket wheel 51 mounted upon shaft 39, that is the shaft which carries the roller 41. It can readily be seen that when the drive shaft 11 is in operation the roll 41 is journaled in the spaced plates 53. The rod 54 and shaft 55 function as stops for the stack of papers 30 which are carried in the hopper 29, the plane of the longitudinal axes of the rod 54 and shaft 55 being substantially at right angles to the plane of the surface of the panel 33 whereby the stack of papers 30 are disposed with the papers on edge and at substantially right angles to the panel 33. An angle iron 56 is mounted upon the upper surface of the panel 33 and functions as a lateral guide for the papers 30.

It will be noted that output shaft 48 extends from unit 5 to unit 6 and in said latter unit, drives the belt 42. If an additional number of units are contemplated, the belts, corresponding to belt 42 of unit 5, may be also driven from said shaft.

The feed mechanism for the unit 5 is identical with the feed mechanism of unit 6 or any additional unit which may be employed and without further detailed description of the feed mechanism of unit 6, the parts thereof corresponding to like parts in the feed mechanism of unit S, which will be described in detail, will be designated by corresponding primed reference numerals.

The feed mechanism for the unit 5 comprises a pair of arms 57 and 58, said arms being disposed on opposite sides of the hopper 29. The arms 57 and 58 are substantially identical and each carries at one end a bearing housing 59 (Fig. 7). The bearing housing 59 carries a pair of ball bearing assemblies 60 which embrace shaft 16, the arrangement being such that both arms 57 and 58 are freely swingable about shaft 16.

Adjacent arm 57, shaft 16 carries a bevel gear 61 which is rigidly mounted upon the end of said shaft by means of said screw 62. Bearing supports 63 are secured to arm 57 adjacent the opposite ends of said arm, said bearing supports carrying ball bearing assemblies 64. A shaft 65 is journaled in the bearings 64 and said shaft carries at one end thereof a bevel gear 66 which is rigidly mounted upon the shaft 61 by means of said screw 67, the bevel gear 66 being adapted to mesh with the bevel gear 61. Accordingly, rotation of shaft 16 results in rotation of shaft 65 which is carried upon arm 57 as hereinbefore described.

A shaft 68 is journaled at one end in bearings 69 carried by arm 57. Arm 58 also carries similar bearings which function to journal the opposite end of shaft 68, said shaft being disposed outwardly from the delivery end of the h opper 29. Shaft 68, intermediate its length, carries a pair of rollers 70 which are preferably constructed of rubber or other resilient material having a relatively high coeicient of friction.

A slide member 71 is mounted upon arm 57, said slide member being provided with spaced slots 72. Screws 73 are threadedly positioned in arm 57, said screws having a shank of relatively enlarged diameter, as shown best at 74 in Fig. 7, whereby said screws function as guides for the slide member 71, the enlarged portions 74 of the screws being positioned in the slots 72. The screws 73 carry enlarged heads 75 whereby the slide member 71 is prevented from moving laterally with respect to arm 57. A similar slide member 76 is similarly mounted upon arm 58 and is adapted for limited slidable movement upon arm 58.

The slide member 71 carries ball bearings 77 and a similar ball bearing assembly 78 is carried upon slide member 76. A shaft 79 is journaled adjacent its opposite ends in the ball bearings 77 and 78, said shaft carrying spaced rollers 80 intermediate its length, said rollers being so disposed upon shaft 79 as to be in osculating relationship to the rollers 70 carried upon shaft 68.

At one end of the slide member 71 a block 81 is carried, said block functioning as an abutment member for one end of a coil spring 82. The opposite end of coil spring 82 abuts against a lug 83 rigidly positioned upon arm 57. Army 57 is provided with-an elongated slot 84 through which shaft 79 extends and similarly arm 58 is also provided with an identical slot through which the opposite end of shaft 79 extends. Upon arm 58 an abutment lug 85 is carried, said lug furnishing an anchorage for coil spring 86. The slide member 76 upon arm 58 carries an abutment block 87, the coil spring 86 being conned between the lug 85 and the block 87. The arrangement is such vthat the springs 82 and 86 resiliently bias the slide members 71 and 76 respectively tending to urge said slide members so as to bring the rolls 70 and 80 upon shaft 68 and 79 respectively into resilient contact with each other. As will be hereinafter more fully described, papers 30 are adapted to pass between the rollers 70 and 80 and consequently the passage of papers between said rollers tend to separate the rollers. This separation is accommodated by the arrangement hereinbefore describd comprising the slide members 71 and 76 and springs 82 and 86.

Shaft 65 carries a bevel gear 88 which is secured to said shaft by said screw 89. A cooperating bevel gear 90 is secured to shaft 68 by means of set screw 100. A bevel gear 101 is secured to shaft 79 by means of set screw 102, said bevel gear being adapted to mesh with bevel gear 103 which is slidably but non-rotatably positioned upon shaft 65. Bevel gear 103 is provided with an annular slot 104 and a finger 105 carried upon the slide member 71, the end of said finger being loosely positioned in the slot 104. Shaft 65 is provided with a key 106 which permits the mounting of bevel gear 103 in such a manner as to permit limited slidable movement of the bevel gear upon the shaft 65. l

When shaft 65 is rotated, as hereinbefore described, 'rotation is imparted to shafts 68 and 79. The rotation of shafts 68 and 79 is such as to have the rollers 70 and 80 at their line of contact move peripherally in the same direction. In other words, the angular rotation of shafts 68 and 79 is opposite. When a paper 30 passes between the rollers 70 and 80 and said rollers are separated by the movement of the slide members 71 and 76 against the compression of springs 82 and 86 respectively, the linger 105 carried by slide member 71 moves the bevel gear 103 so as to maintain a proper meshing relationship with the bevel gear 101 carried upon shaft 79.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, a link 107 is pivotally connected to the end of arm 58. At the opposite end link 107 is pivotally connected to arm 109 which is, in turn, rigidly connected to shaft 5S. A pair of vacuum cup holders 110 are rigidly mounted upon an intermediate portion of shaft 55, the vacuum cup holders being spaced from each other. Conventional vacuum cups 111 are mounted at the ends of the vacuum cup holders 110 and are connected by means of fittings l112 to flexible vacuum hoses 113, the hoses being connected at their opposite ends to a controlled source of vacuum (not shown).

A pair of similarlv shaped cams 114 are mounted in spaced relationship upon the cam shaft 26, there being one cam 114 beneath each arm 57 and 58. A roller bracket 115 is mounted upon arm 57 and a similarl bracket is mounted upon arm 58. Each of the brackets 115 carries a cam follower roller 116 which is adapted to ride upon the surface of each cam 114. A coil spring 117 is connected to each of the arms 57 and 58, the opposite ends of said coil springs being connected to the frame of the machines whereby the arms 57 and 58 are urged about shaft 16 in such fashion as to cause rollers 116 to normally ride upon the faces of the cams 114. The arrangement is such that as shaft 26 rotates the cam follower rollers 116 riding upon the faces of the cams 114 will raise and lower the arms 57 and 58. inasmuch as both cams 114 are alike and are positioned upon shaft 26 in the same angular relationship, the arms 57 and 58 will move upwardly and downwardly in unison.

It can readily be seen from Figs. 5 and 6 that as the arms 57 and 58 move upwardly and downwardly the vacuum cup holders 10 will be rocked with shaft 55 ,due to the linkage connection comprising link 107 and arm 109. The dimensions of the cams 114, that is, the eX- treme distances of the low side of the cams and the high side of the cams is such that the vacuum cups 111 will be swung from the extreme position shown in Fig. 5 to the extreme position shown in Fig. 6. When the vacuum cups 111 are in the position shown in Fig. 5 their mouths uumgcp'sarg this/poA .t acuum. 4albi the -ellpe ceases the. .19W aleen aver te, :adhere itlathe cups. WThis. position ,of t cups oc; l ursi .when the. cam

follqwerI ifollers =1`16 l 4are on'. thev lpviflf portions. 'of theI cams 1-1-4. Aslthevroller's .116. ridetotlle.. upper.'portio ns of the cams 114.the free` .ends `ofarms. 5.7;.,"and15`t81are`raised and :ar-.m 109,- ct 1r.rie d.,byy yshaftISS is swung in 'a clcgclif4 direction, asviewedninFig. 6L ol tJcz-Shafzresultsin aClQCkWi/Se cups ,111 whereby, thelwverportio fthfe b ton'i paper 3()` is; carried to asubstaiitially,verticalvpiane. Ofjeourse, roller-s, 7 il. and.. 80,1 arel .contihuouslylotatin and inasmuch as ,thearms577 ndSSare. raisedlsaid rollers.` are.V sov posif timed-es tam- .fpwardlyfeitd ...gegethe 1Q-wet felded edge f, thes'reeped .Devenu Retetzienfffthel rlllerfe Eiland 8Q=.`tends..to;rnove.the .grasped papel? downwardly, Howe ever,` atfaboutf the time thatthe lrollerslw and.\. 8f)grasp the Alewei'edgejo'f. thepapentthevacnum. in theI aeuum cups'is broken and consequently rollers;.'Itland.llailefree te. nieve..therapeedownwatflyhetwee the rollers .thereby remevag .they .ley/ermee? peper', fr,.e1t1.f-.the}.steekfearned, m the hopperv29..

vfTl`1e\.'ac`uum established in thelups 11,1 mayfbe een; trolle'd-by` a..suitablevalve. of. conv ntiqnalconstructron Whiehiay beeperatedin tirnedlt. tenShawith-eheft Ze'whereby the'yeeunm eqeatlallyteetablieheeeud btelte ieeseerdenee. vwttathe-meV..emelrtt-ef .the yeevum cu s. l willbenoted tligs. land ,/1f/.\), t hat`l theIl cam shaft eextende trent? theueit Serie threugh .theau 6- -.C.ams 114i in the unit `6,.`rnonnted,upony the .shaft 2d are. similar to'cams ,114,and, hence., whcnapapen is eing delivered from the ,hopper".2t9,` an y insert 31 will. simultaneously. be delivered. fromA 'the hoppers29t'. Ifadditional .units .are employed allof thel..additidnal.inserts vr/ouldbzev delivered s'im ultan'e'ouslyV from thei respective hoppers withthe delivery of Athe;c yuter Sectio Onfrorn thehop r 29 Positioned beneath, and'spacedmdownwardly fronrthe nipof therolls 71)and 80, is a pair of spaeedguide plates Maand 1'19 previ-dieta a auidewaytitl therebetween vThe alette 118; .eed-.112 etnther, Upper -Pertienef are flared eutlyyerdly, es; et 1.21 ie.Fg 2l, whereby thepenerfe faeyed--lewnwerdly by-.relle-Jtlend .$9 may,A .enyeaiently enter and .fell...ewnwerd1y .threughnhe -guideway 1.2.0. he platee 118end1195ere .enbste'ntially eOeXt/easivewith the widt-li.of unit i a d are supported at. theif respective ends by.straps.122 and 123., which, in turn, are secured t0 the treme. 0i the. machine Similar. snide: platee l 1185 and 1.19.. end. attitleweyelZOf-erepeeitied -beneath.v rplls 70? enti- 80f in mit @te guide Ethe..yde..wnward1movementof the, delivered inse'rts 31.

uDisposed beneath thewguidefplatesf-118;,and 119are a Peret eaeeedv intermediate euidesflze; andfu .between whCh-.thedelivered. netter :3.0 is. nsitioned.. Theeaide 124 end .1.2.5 are Supperted. by-` Straps lllrandilzT/whieh they be Secured. t0 the frame; et ,the meehine.. Unlike. guide plates 1 18.and 119, guidels124iand 1 25 are substantially coextensive `with the entire machine includingfallyofits units.

. Beneath. the audesfllft andqlZS and Snaeed downwardly therefrom is @channel ,128, the, flanges ofyfwhich|` extend upwardly .and l the. lopening thereof being in substantial verticalfalignment with the space betweenthe guidealltl end 12S-- The ehenne1.-f,1;2.S,-Similar t0 .suidesflzft `and 1.215 is. .substantially oextensive. with thfe entire. mahineincluding allrof the units which may beJ employed. "Wheh thepaperf; is delivered from the. rolls 70.,and;8(l,the papenafter. leavingv thefnip ofsaid-.rollsyfalls througlrthe atiideways 1.20.2111@ between .guidesf-1t24...and125.Y ,-Ihe paper 3!) eventually comes tor restwith it,s .f;olded lower edgerestin'gl in channel 123 and. its. intermediate, portion supportedl by` 'guides1 2 4 ,125` so that` saidl paper. is ,disposed ina substantially vertical; plane inthe rna nnershoyvn best ingFig. 2-.

A pair .of opposedi convergent resilient fingers-1,29., shown diagrammatically inligs.- l2, and 13;.are`rnounted upon the endsofthe guide plates 118, andf1,19,.that is, the vertical portion t of. said-plates., at: the .ehd`s;.lthe'reof adjacent; theunit 6, .At lthe adjacent .,end'rofthe. corre: spondingplatestllla and 119..1of theunity 6, abracket 130:` is carried by, said. plates, sadabracltetbridging; the ends; of. said plates .andcarrying a wedge ,131 the...apex of which extends'` between; the eonv,ergnt ...endsa ofathe lingers. 1.29:;` lathe-.unit 6,-,.a1id anyedditienal.unit-.which may be employed thereafter, .etpair Qfepeeedguidem 132.21m disposed eutwerdly from the-betteln edgesef thermes-1.1.3. and 1.1.9,.Pr0yiding a. Spade/1.33 between saidtplates.andthe-"guide bars.

Asrwill' be hereinafter more fully described a conveyor moves thepaperwhich rests .upon channel128 through the -guidesyllZd and `and through the lower ends of the guideway towardjhe .llnit 6. As. the. forward edge of the Peper moves-inte .eonteet with the fingere 129 the paper is guided thereby toward the apex of the wedge. 131 which, aslthe paper continues its movement, enters the Aspace between the two. halves 134 of the folded paper and spreads said halves awayfromeachother, as the motion ef. the pepereentinuee in motion longitudinally alena the Channel 128, seidhalyeele moyevinto Space .133 between theguide barsfillandthe bottom portions of plates 1 18 and 119. When the paper;` 30.1thus spread movesl beneath the feed mechanism o'funit V6, the timing of the. machine is such as to cause the papento stop while an insert 31 moves downwardly between plates 118, and 119'.` In so dropping, the insert positions itself between thevspread halveslgt of the paper 30, and the folded portion of the insert moves downwardly between said folded halves between:guides` 1.24 and125 and eventually cornes to rest withits lower -fold innested relationship with the corresponding fold of the paper 3G. Simultaneously with the dropping ofthe insert 31 ,intoembraced relationshipwith the spread paper 30, another outer. section of thepaper movesdownwardly from the hopper 29 and the operation is repeateduthe insertf31 embracedby the outer section 3@ then in unit 6, moving to the next unitor moving directly to. the deliveryend 7 of .the machine if only one insert is to be -stuffed in theouter section.

L A s has beenfhereinbefore described the sprocket chain 15% drives sprocket wheel 2i) which isv carried upon lthe input sl'la't`tl214 of a conventional right angle driveidefvice 2v2.V he device 22 has an outputshaft 135. upon which is carried a sprocket wheel136. The device? 22 is of conventional construction and comprises essentially a pairV of *meshingv bevel gears (not shown), one carried upon shaft Zlnand the other carried upon` shaft 135 within the housing-22. ln thismfashion rotation of shaft 21 is changed to the right angierotation of shaft135. Sprocket Wheel 135 drives a sprocket wheel136 mounted uponthe lowerend of a vertical shaft 137, byrneans of a sprocket chain 138,. Shaft 137 is journaled in spaced bearings139 andllltlfwkhich are mounted. upon the frameof themachine. Intermediate the lengthof shaft 137 a spur gear 141 is positioned, saidV spur gear being adapted lto mesh with azspur gean142of an equal number of teeth and on the same diameter, the latter` gear. beingjmounted .intermediate the length of a shaft 143. The shaft 143 is journaled in spaced bearings144 and 145 mounted upon the frame-of the machine. It can readily be seen thatv rotation of shaft137results inrotation of slhaft143 in an opposite angular directionand inasmuch as the spur gears 1,41 andldvlareequal inA diameterthe rotational speed of the shafts13Z .and. 143 are the same.

`At. the uppenend. of. shaft 137 a grooved pulley. 146 is mounted and at the-.upperend of shaft 143 a similar pulley 1,47 iswcarried, said pulleys being in substantially the samefhorizontal plane and having their .peripheries spacedifrom eachother.- A conventional V-belt `148 is trained around pulleyV 146 and a similar belt149 is ltrained around pulley/147. The belts `148 and 149 traverse. the entire length of the machineand at the delivery end 7 of, the machinev said belts are respectively. trainedtar'ound grooved pulleysA 15:0. and.151 carriednpon shafts; 15,2.and ll'despectively. Shafts 152 and. 1511*;A are journalediu suitable bearingsldand. 155'. carried upon. the, franfrefof the machine. The;pulleys-146,MZ 15and151are so disposed `with respectto, each other.thatadjaeentlpasses the baits Miti. leef-i?! are, Parallel: te each .other and moving saidadiacentbelts. towardeach. other in erderto gripithe paper v3d between theirs.duringl predetermined phasesiof operationfofthe machine.- in thilsifashiongtlle papers arecarriedforwardly with the belts in .the direction indicated by the arrows 156 infFig. 4 l

- 'Ehe-meehansm for moving.thefdiaeentrpassesfottthe belts toward each other in order to grip the papers carried by the channel 128 is described as follows:

A pair of angle irons 157 are mounted upon the frame of the machine in spaced relationship to each other, said angle irons being disposed parallel to each other and extending throughout substantially the length of the machine. Two or more belt-moving mechanisms 158 may be carried by the angle irons 157. If the machine comprises two units, a belt-moving mechanism 158 will be employed with each unit. If the machine comprises more than two units a larger number of belt-moving mechanisms 158 may be employed. All of the belt-moving mechanisms are the sarne and only one of said mechanisms will be described, it being understood that the other mechanism illustrated and all other belt moving mechanisms which may be employed, if a larger number of units is employed, will be identical with the one described.

The belt-moving mechanism 158 is carried by a pair of spaced transverse bars 159 which are mounted at their ends upon the spaced angle irons 157. Spacer bars 16) and 161 are secured to the transverse bars 159 by means of bolts 162 which also extend through a guide plate 163 which is spaced from the bars and 161. A rack 164 is carried upon guide plate 163 and a similar rack 165 is carried by said guide plate in spaced relation to rack 164, the arrangement being such that said racks may be slidable between bars 160 and 161 and plate 163. Actuating arms 166 and 167 are respectively pivotally connected by means of pivot pins 168 and 169 to racks 165 and 166, whereby relative longitudinal movement of said racks results in relative lateral movement of the arms 166 and 167.

A pinion 170 is supported by plate 163, the hub 171 thereof being journaled in said plate, said pinion meshing with the teeth of the opposite racks whereby rotation of said pinion moves said racks longitudinally with respect to each other in opposite directions. A shaft 172 is keyed to said pinion and is secured at its opposite end to arm 173 which, in turn, is pivotally connected to a link 174.

Link 174 is secured to an extension link 175 by bolts 176 'L the arrangement being such that links 174 and 175 may be adjusted lengthwise with respect to each other. The extension link 175 is pivotally connected at its end to an end of lever 177 which is fulcrumed at 178 to a standard 179 secured to the frame of the machine. The opposite end of lever 177 carries a cam-follower roller 180 which is adapted to ride upon the periphery of a cam 181 mounted upon cam shaft 26. The arrangement is such that rotation of cam 181 results in rocking of lever 177 which, in turn,

rotates shaft 172 causing racks 164 and 165 to move in y opposite directions thereby moving arms 166 and 167 laterally in opposite directions.

The arms 166 and 167 extend throughout a major portion of the length of the machine, said arms being parallel to the adjacent passes of belts 149 and 148. A plurality i of spindles 182 and 183 are respectively carried by arms 167 and 166, said spindles being spaced along the length of said arms and being disposed in pairs. Each of said spindles carries a grooved roller 184 which engages the inner sides of the adjacent passes of the belts 148 and 149. The arrangement is such that when the arms 166 and 167 are moved laterally with respect to each other, the adjacent passes of the belts 148 and 149 are brought toward or away fom each other. When the belts are brought toward each other the surfaces of said belts engage the papers 30 carried in the channel 128 and said papers are carried forwardly with said belts.

In order that the arms 166 and 167 shall remain parallel to each other through their length two or more belt-moving mechanisms 158 are employed in spaced relationship along the length of said arms. To cause said mechanism to operate in unison, the belt moving mechanisms may be driven together by sprocket chain 185 which is trained around sprocket wheels 186 carried upon the shafts 172 of said mechanisms. In this manner canting of the arms 166 and 167 with respect to each other during lateral movement of said arms is avoided.

In operation the hopper 29 is charged with a plurality of papers which will constitute the outer section of the newspaper, that is papers being piled upon the panel 33 with their respective planes at right angles to the plane of the panel, the stack of papers resting upon the rod 54 and shaft 55. Similarly a stack of inserts may be positioned in the hopper 29.

Shaft 11 is driven by the motor 9 and said shaft in turn drives shaft 16. Simultaneously the cam shaft 26 is driven and also the belt 42 is driven thereby tending to move the stack of papers downwardly toward the rod 54 and shaft 55. With the movement of shaft 16, shaft 65 is driven and consequently rollers 70 and 80 are driven. Starting with the position of the parts shown in Fig. 5, roller 116 will be positioned upon the low portion of cam 114 and hence arms 57 and 58 will be in their lowermost position. The movement of arm 58 to its lowermost position causes a counterclockwise movement of shaft 55, as viewed in Fig. 5, whereby the vacuum cups 111 are swung into contacting position with the lowermost paper 30 in the stack carried in the hopper 29. Simultaneously vacuum is established in the vacuum cups 111. As the motion proceeds rollers 116 move on to the high portions of cams 114 whereby the arms 57 and 58 are raised. With the raising of the arms 57 and 58 the vacuum cups 111 are swung in a clockwise direc tion whereby the lower portion of the endmost paper 30 is swung to a substantially vertical position, a position in which said lower end may be grasped by the rollers 70 and 80 which simultaneously move upwardly to grasping position. As the cam shaft 26 rotates the rollers 70 and 80 draw the grasped paper downwardly, as indicated in Fig. 6. Eventually, the paper 30 leaves the rollers 70 and 80 entering the guideway 120 and dropping between guides 124 and 125 and resting upon the channel guide 128 between belts 148 and 149.

After the paper has dropped to the position shown best in Fig. 2, cam 181 will have so moved as to rock lever 177 in a clockwise direction about pivot 178, as viewed in Fig. 9. This movement of lever 177 results in an inward movement of arms 166 and 167 toward each other which, in turn, causes the grooved pulleys 184 to move inwardly toward each other whereby belts 148 and 149 move into plane-parallel contacting relationship with the paper 30. As has been hereinbefore described, the belts 148 and 149 are also driven from the main drive shaft 11 and in this fashion the paper 30 is carried forwardly.

When the paper 30 reaches a position in the channel 128 immediately beneath the discharge of the hopper 29 of the unit 6, cam 181 will have so rotated as to again rock lever 177 so as to cause arms 166 and 167 to move outwardly away from each other whereby the belts 148 and 149 are disengaged from the paper 30 and said paper remains stationary beneath the hopper 29. During the passage of the paper 30 from beneath hopper 29 to lts position beneath hopper 29', said paper is spread by means of the wedge 131 carried by the guide plates 118 and 119'. In this fashion the upper portion of the paper positions itself outside of the guide plates 118' and 119 in substantially V fashion. While the paper remains stationary in this position a second paper 30 is being removed from the hopper 29 in the` manner hereinbefore described. Simultaneously an insert 31 is being removed from the hopper 29 in the same fashion as described in conjunction with the removal of the paper 30 from the hopper 29. In this manner an insert is removed from the hopper 29 and is dropped into the spread paper 30 which remains stationary beneath the hopper 29.

After the paper has been so dropped, it can readily be seen that it will be embraced by the outer section 30. Thereafter the belts 148 and 149 move into contacting position with both the paper 30 carrying the insert in the unit 6 and the paper 30, that is the outer section, deposited from the hopper 29. Thus an outer section will be. delivered from the unit 5 to the unit 6 at the same time that an outer section plus its insert is being removed from the unit 6 to a forward position. As has been hereinbefore described the forward position may be to the discharge end of the machine 7 or may be to an additional unit whereby a second insert may be deposited in a manner similar to the disposition of the first insert.

Referring particularly to Fig. 12, a solenoid 187 is p ositioned adjacent guides 124 and 125 ori the delivery side of unit 6, said solenoid having a core 188 which is adapted for reciprocal movement transverse to said guides whereby in extended position said core blocks the path of the paper moving through said guide and functions as an index, and in retracted position the core is removed from the guides and permits the paper to move forwardly. One terminal of the solenoid is connected to a source of current 189 and the opposite terminal is connected through a pair of limit switches 190 and 191 is in extended position, that is, indexing position,` solenoid 18]. 1s deenergized, energizationof .said solenoid :fune- -tioning to retractthecore to its'fnon-indexing, position.

Accordingly, whenarrns SSare .in their-:uppermost posi.-

tion switch 190. is open and whentheVbelts148uand 149 are in their driving position the switch.191=is .open Conversely, when the arms 5,8.are in theirpaper-delivening position `the switch 19.0.His open vaud, when `the beltsfare. in their `paper-driving position the` switchr.191.,is :lopen:- Hence,lduring the period. thatthe paper/: movingy from unit S to unit 6 switcl11911is open buttswitch 190.

is closed so the core 188 is in its retracted position. .lust before thepaper. reaches the. core, the;roller 180 moves off the high portion of cam 181 thebelts 148 and 149 being spaced apart and the solenoidV 187 is deenergized causing core 188 to move to itsindexing position. vThe momentum of the paper 30 causes its to slide into vcontact with'core 188 and, hence, it is properly indexed to receive the insert 31 from hopper 39.'. While ,roller 180-moves over the low portion of cam 18.1.switch 191Yis closed andgremainsyclosed before roller:18,0-again reaches` the high portion of cam 181, thereby retracting core 187. Hence, when the belts again move toward each other the core is already retracted and stays retracted until the stuffed paper moves out of unit 6. The operation is then repeated, each time core 188 functioning to index the outer section paper so that the insert 31 may be properly stuffed.

Referring particularly to Fig. 14, a diagrammatic plan view of the guides is shown where more than two units are empolyed, that is, where more than one insert is to be embraced by the outer section paper. It is contemplated that if two or more inserts are to be positioned within the outer section 30, that the two inserts be inserted side by side within the outer section. Consequently, during the stuffing operation only the outer section 30 is spread. 1n order that the second insert will not fall upon the first insert, during the stufng operation of the second insert, the guide plate 118 is terminated at the end of the second unit and the guide plate 119 is bent laterally at the end of the second unit, as at 196, and continues in substantial alignment with the guide plate 118. A companion guide plate 119" joins with the continuation of the guide plate 119 and provides a space 197 into which a second insert paper 31a may fall while the curved portion 196 diverts the rst insert paper 31 outside of the guide plate.

It is to be understood that the machine comprising the present invention may be made portable merely by mounting the same upon casters or the like and that said machine may contain as many insert units as desired, the operation of the insert units being the same as the operation of the unit 5, and all of said units operating in timed relationship with one another.

We claim as our invention:

1. A paper stuffing machine comprisingy a pair of adjacent units, means for feeding a folded' outer section paper from one unit, receiving means for said unit to which said folded outer section paper is fed, receiving means for said second unit, a conveyor for engaging said outer section paper from said rst receiving means and delivering it to` said second receiving means, means adjacent said conveyor for spreading said folded outer section paper during movement thereof to said second receiving means, means for disengaging said conveyor from said outer section paper to stop said paper while said outer section paper is at said second receiving means, and means for feeding an insert paper from said second unit into embraced relationship with said spread outer section paper at said second receiving means.

2. A paper stuffing machine comprising a pair of adjacent units, means for feeding a folded outer section paper from one unit, receiving means for said unit to which said folded outer section paper is fed, receiving means for said second unit, a conveyor for engaging said outer section paper from said rst receiving means andy delivering -it -to said second :reeeivingvmeans,ymens` adjacent said lconveyorfor spreading .saidfolded outer sectionjpaper Sdu-ring movement-thereof vto -said second receiving means, means for-disengaging -said conveyor from-said'outer section paper'to stop-said paper while said outer section pap'er is at ysaid second receiving means; means lfor feeding an insertgpaper fromk saidfsecondunit intoembraced relationship with said spreadfouter section paper at said second'receiving` vmeans and'means forsimultaneouslyl feeding a folded'outer section paper from said first unit ytosaid first receiving means in 'timed relationship with the feeding of the insert from thesecond unitand repeating thefstuling operation;

3. A `paper stufiing machine comprising a pairfof ad-l jacent units, means 'forfeeding la folded -outer :section paper'from ,onel unit, receiving Vvme'an'sfor -said` unitzto which said folded outer section paper is fed,receiving meansfor said second unit, `a conveyor forengagingsaidv outer section paper from said first receiving means and deliveringl it to `said second 'receiving meansyrneans 'adjacent said conveyor for s spreading said folded outer section paper` during movement-thereof to said -second receiving means,` v means v for `disengaging "said lconveyor from--saidfoutersection paper to stop said paper while saidI outer vsection paper-is at saidfsecond receiving means, means forindexing said outer section paper at saidV second receivingmeans, andmeans for feeding aninsertv paper from said second unit into embraced relationship with said spread outer section paper at said second'receiving means. l

4.V A stuffing .machine comprisingl in 4combination a first unit and a second unit, a hopper in said first unit for holding a stack of folded outer section papers, a hopper in said second unit for holding a stack of insert papers, paper feeding means disposed adjacent each unit for .simultaneously removing an outer section paper and an lnsert paper, respectively, from said hoppers, receiving means for said rst unit to which said outer section paper is fed, receiving means for said second unit to which said 1nsert paper 1s fed, a conveyor disposed adjacent said receiving means for said two sections, means for engaging said conveyor with said outer section paper at the rst unit receiving means and carrying said outer section paper to said second unit receiving means, means disposed adjacent the path of travel of said conveyor for spreading said folded outer section paper while the same is carried by said conveyor, means for disengaging said spread outer section paper from the conveyor to stop the paper in said second unit receiving means, and means for guiding said fed insert paper from said second unit hopper into embraced relationship with said spread outer section paper in said second unit receiving means.

A conveyor mechanism for a paper stung machine wherein an insert paper is positioned within a folded outer section paper which comprises, a guide for holding a folded outer section paper, a pair of moving conveyor belts having spaced parallel passes coextensive with said guide, one pass being disposed on each side of the paper carried in said guide, means for moving said parallel belt passes toward and away from each other respectively to grasp said paper and release the same to move the paper in said guide and to stop the same, and means disposed adjacent the path of travel of said paper for spreading said folded outer section paper while it is moved by said belts whereby to receive an insert paper g/len said folded outer section paper is released by said 6. A conveyor mechanism for a paper stuffing machine wherein an insert paper is positioned within a folded outer section paper which comprises, a guide for holding a folded outer section paper, a pair of moving conveyor belts having spaced parallel passes coextensive with said guide, one pass being disposed on each side of the paper carried in said guide, means for moving said parallel belt passes toward and away from each other respectively to grasp said paper and release the same to move the paper in said guide and to stop the same, said means comprising a plurality of pulleys positioned inwardly of the parallel passes of said belts, and means for moving said pulleys outwardly and inwardly relative to the paths of travel of said belts, and means disposed adjacent the path of travel of said paper for spreading said folded outer section paper while it is moved by said belts whereby to receive an insert paper when said folded. outer section paper is released by said belt.

7. A conveyor mechanism for a paper stuing machine wherein an insert paper is positioned within a folded outer section paper which comprises, a guide for holding a folded outer section paper, a pair of moving conveyor belts having spaced parallel passes coextensive with said guide, one pass being disposed on each side of the paper carried in said guide, means for moving said parallel belt passes toward and away from each other respectively to grasp said paper and release the same to move the paper in said guide and to stop the same, said means comprising a plurality of pulleys positioned inwardly of the parallel passes of said belts, and cam operated means for moving said pulleys outwardly and inwardly relative to the paths of travel of said belts, and means disposed adjacent the path of travel of said paper for spreading said folded outer section paper while it is moved by said belts whereby to receive an insert paper Lvlen said folded outer section paper is released by said 8. A paper stui`n`ng machine comprising a pair of units, means for feeding a folded outer section paper from one unit, means for conveying said fed outer section paper to the next adjacent unit, means intermediate said units for spreading said folded outer section paper during movement from the rst unit to the second unit, means for feeding an insert paper from said second unit into embraced relationship with said spread outer section paper delivered from said first unit simultaneously with the feeding of a folded outer section paper from said first unit, and means for rendering said conveying means inoperative during feeding of papers from said units.

9. A paper stuing machine comprising a pair of units, a hopper in each unit for holding a stack of folded outer section papers and insert papers respectively, means for feeding a folded outer section paper from one of said hoppers, receiving means for receiving said folded outer section paper comprising a guide for holding said outer section paper, a pair of moving conveyor belts having spaced parallel passes coextensive with said guide, one pass being disposed on each side of the paper carried in said guide, means for moving said parallel belt passes toward each other to grasp said paper and carry the same forwardly, means disposed adjacent the path of travel of said paper for spreading said folded outer section paper while it is moved by said belts, receiving means for said second unit, means for releasing said belts from said paper to stop said paper in said second unit securing means, and feeding means for said second unit for positioning an insert paper from said stack into embraced relationship with said stopped spread outer section paper 20 in said second unit securing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

